Moisture-liquid indication devices



May 7, 1963 E. JONES 3,088,811

MOISTURE-LIQUID INDICATION DEVICES Filed Dec. 24, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l Z3 Z5 2 Z [/6 INV EN TOR. [0cm J07Za5,

y 1963 E. JONES. 3,088,811

MOISTURE LIQUID INDICATION DEVICES Filed Dec. 24, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. Eva/z Jorzea May 7, 1963 E. JONES 3,088,811

MOISTURE-LIQUID INDICATION DEVICES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 24. 1959 g v a (W/ INVENTOR. BY [oz/z M57265,

8 MMWW Unite 3,088,811 MOISTURE-LIQUID INDICATIQN DEVICES Evan Jones, Evanston, Ill., assignor to Henry Valve Company, Melrose Park, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 861,985 7 Claims. (Cl. 23-253) The present invention relates to moisture-liquid indicatron devices and special moisture indication means for use in liquid handling systems, particularly refrigeration systems. More specifically, the invention is directed to special utilization of moisture indication means with liquid indication means, a new and improved specific form of moisture indication means, and new and improved liquid indicator and drier assembly structures.

In maintaining efiicient refrigeration system operation, refrigeration moisture content control is of considerable importance. Substantial improvements have been made in increasing the drying and maintenance efliciency of drier assemblies installed in a refrigeration system and efforts have been made to develop a suitable refrigerant moisture content indication means for use in a system to inform the operator thereof of the complete or near exhaustion of the drying capacity of the drier assembly. Moisture sensitive paper has been developed for use as an indication means, the refrigerant upon contact with the paper causing the color of the paper to vary in direct relation with the variation in moisture content of the refrigerant.

Observablc color changes requiring color matching for accurate determination of refrigerant moisture content and/or the condition of the drying elements of the drier assembly has been found lacking in several respects. Efficient operation of the system is dependent on the operators ability to accurately read the color changes. Color standards for matching purposes which are supplied in separate card form are subject to misplacernent or destructive soiling and, similarly, color standards applied directly to the indicator device to prevent misplacement are subject to damage and soiling. In order to avoid color matching and the disadvantages attendant thereto, I have devised a moisture indication means which provides readily observable word instructions which appear and disappear in accordance with the variation in refrigerant moisture content. The basic principle used in providing the work instructions of the type described are set forth in my co pending application Serial No. 798,981, filed March 12, 1959.

It is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved moisture-liquid indicator devices particularly adapted for use in refrigeration systems, the devices including new and improved features of design and arrangement providing for separate and cooperative improved utilization of moisture and liquid indication means.

A further object is to provide new and improved liquid indicator devices for mounting in a refrigerant handling line and for use in a refrigerant drier assembly in a new and improved manner, the liquid indicator devices being particularly adapted for utilization with suitable moisture indication means and further being especially adapted for use in association with new and improved moisture indication means forming a part of the present invention.

Another object is to provide a new and improved moisture indication means of the type providing readily observable word instructions for immediate determination of refrigerant moisture content condition, the indication means being of unique design and arrangement particularly adapting the same for use in conjunction with liquid indicator means.

Still a further object is to provide a new and improved refrigerant drier assembly through which liquid refrigerant flows for drying thereof, the assembly including therein 3,683,811 Patented May 7, 1963 liquid-moisture indication means for ready observance of liquid flow maintenance and refrigerant drying efficiency, the assembly including a specially designed cover plate which constitutes a part of the present invention, the cover plate carrying in a new and novel manner the moistureliquid indication means.

Other objects not specifically set forth will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a moisture-liquid indicator device incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the device of FIG. 1 as viewed along line 22 therein;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section of a cap designed for use with the device of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective of a tool designed for use with the device of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded view of various elements forming a part of the moisturediquid indicator device of FIGS. 1 and 2, these elements being shown in cross section;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded view of the various elements constituting a part of the moisture indication means shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section of a refrigerant drier assembly forming a part of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a portion of the cover plate of the drier assembly of FIG. 7 illustrating the moisture-liquid indicator means thereof; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the parts of the moistureliquid indication means of the cover plate of FIG. 8 illustrating the same section.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a moisture-liquid indicator device 15 of the type adapted to be installed in a liquid flow line such as in a refrigerant system of any suitable type. The indicator 15 includes a generally cylindrical body portion 16 provided with an internal through passageway 17 through which liquid refrigerant flows. Opposite ends of the body portion 16 are shaped to form threaded nipples 18 of the type illustrated or may be in the form of tubular ends of any suitable design for attachment in a liquid flow line. Centrally of the body portion 16, the passageway 17 is provided with an enlarged chamber-like area 19 which continues through a shoulder portion 20 formed integral with the body portion and into the interior of a collar-like means which is in the form of a radially extending sleeve 21 formed integral with the body portion 16 and extending therefrom at right angles to the passageway 17 and to one side thereof.

The sleeve 21 is outwardly opening and has received therein a moisture indication means 22 forming a part of the present invention, a window member 23 peripherally surrounded by a pair of cooperating packing rings 24 and 25 and an O-ring 26, and a packing gland 27. The moisture indication means 22 is peripherally supported on an annular step portion 28 formed in the shoulder 20 with the combined window assembly including the packings 24 and 25 and the O-ring 26 surrounding the window member 23 and mounted in direct association and engagement with the moisture indication means 22. The packing gland 27 is externally threaded and engages cooperating internal threads formed in the outer portion of the sleeve 21 and engages the outermost packing 25 to tightly hold the window assembly and moisture indication means in their operative positions in the device.

The sleeve 21 is also provided with an external thread along the outermost surfac thereof to receive thereon an internally thread-ed seal cap 30 shown in FIG. 3. The cap 30 includes an internal stepped shoulder portion having mounted thereon a gasket 31 for engagement with the top outer edge of the sleeve 21 when the cap 30 is threadedly received thereon. The cap 30 may be formed from any suitable material such as plastic or metal and is designed to cover the sleeve 21 when the indicator 15 is not in use. The packing gland 27 is provided with a pair of oppositely positioned recesses 32 adapted to receive therein shoulder portions 33 of a fiat tool 34 shown in FIG. 4. The bottom margin of the tool 34 defines a downwardly projecting portion 35 which is received interiorly of the packing gland 27 with the shoulders 33 received in the grooves 32. The tool 34 is used to tighten the assembly in the sleeve 21 or loosen the packing gland for ready removal of the various parts received in the sleeve 21.

FIG. illustrates the various elements of the combined moisture-liquid indication and viewing arrangement. As will be described in greater detail, the moisture indication means 22 includes a plurality of superimposed circular elements having a top indicia-carrying element 36, an intermediate element 37, a bottom element 38, and a rigidifying element 4t all of which are centrally aligned by a retainer means 41. The packing rings 24 and 25 are identical design each being provided with an inwardly projecting annular flange 42. The flanges 42 overlap the inner and outer face margins of the window member 23 to encase the same therebetween. The Oring 26 is positioned centrally of the outer periphery of the window member 23 between opposed edges of the packing rings 24 and 25. The ring 26 may be formed from rubber or rubber-like material and the packing rings 24 and 25 are preferably formed from polytetrafluoroethylene. The packing gland 27 is frusto-conical and the inner edge 43 thereof is angled to flatly engage the angled surface of the packing ring 25 adjacent thereto. Tightening of the packing gland 27 results in clamped seating of the circular elements 36, 37, 38 and 40 between the stepped portion 28 (FIG. 2) of the shoulder 20 of the indicator device 15 and the bottom angled surface of the flange 42 of the adjacent packing ring 24. By forming the packing rings 24 and 25 from polytetrafluoroethylene, an adequate degree of resiliency is present to prevent overtight ening of the elements by th packing gland 27 and the polytetrafluoroethylene is inert to the refrigerant to prevent interference with proper functioning of the moisture indication means 22. The window member 23 is resiliently encased between the packing rings 24 and 25 and the O-ring 26 with the O-ring providing for a positive seal about the window member 23. From the design of the various elements described, it will be appreciated that there is positive engagement between mating surfaces to provide for compact and efficient sealing action in a limited area. i

FIG. 6 illustrates in detail the various elements of the moisture indication means of the present invention. The retainer means 41 is in the form of a flanged collar being provided with an integrally formed upper radial flange 44 provided with a flat bottom surface and an angled top surface. The indicia-carrying element 36 in the preferred form of the invention is formed from paper-like material which is treated to be moisture sensitive to change from one color to another in response to variation in moisture content in a liquid such as a refrigerant. Any suitable (moisture sensitive material may be utilized and applied in any suitable manner to a base material such as paper. The indicia of the element 36 is in the form of stencilled words WET and DRY which are oppositely positioned thereon for ready separate reading. These words provide instructions as to the condition of refrigerantflowing through the moisture-liquid indicator device 15 and are arranged in combination with the remaining elements of the moisture indication means to instructas to safe or unsafe refrigerant condition.

By way of example, the moisture sensitive element 36 will vary in color froma definite pink to a definite blue in response to the moisture content of the refrigerant.

When the system is dry the element 36 :will be blue and when the system is wet the element 36 will be pink.

To provide for the appearance and disappearance of the various word instructions, the element 37 is formed from suitable paper material provided with a permanent blue color matching exactly the blue color of the element 36 which is present when the system is dry. The element 37 is an interrupted arcuate element designed to provide a background for the word instruction WET alone without effecting the independent background of the word instruction DRY. The element 38 is similarly formed of suitable paper and is. provided with a permanent pink color which corresponds to the pink color of the element 36 when the system is wet. The element 38 is continuously circular and thus provides word instruction background for the word DRY in the assembled form of the moisture indication means. In other words, the element 37 is observable through the stencilled word instruction WET of the element 36 and the element 38 is observable through the stencilled word instruction DRY of the element 36.

The rigidifying element 4% is preferably formed from metallic material such as brass and is perforated throughout for refrigerant flow therethrough into contact with the other paper elements. The element 40 rigidities the paper elements of the moisture indication means and, in effect, provides a base support therefor. As particularly shown in FIG. 2, the moisture indication means 22 is supported on the stepped area 28 of the shoulder 20 and the flange 42 of the packing ring 24 overlaps the outer edge of the combined circular elements of the moisture indication means to hold the means in seated relation on the shoulder 20. The top edge of the collar 41 is in engagement with the inner surface of the window member 23 for fixed positioning of the moisture indication means and ready viewing of the word instructions thereof through the window member. The collar retainer means 41 is preferably formed from polytetrafluoroethylene which is inert with known refrigerants.

The moisture indication means 22 provides for efficient, readily observable instruction as to the moisture content of a refrigerant. The unique design and arrangement of the various elements of the moisture indication means readily adapts the same for mounting in small areas for eflicient space saving utilization thereof. The collar retainer 41 is in the form of a sleeve providing a relatively large central area which is open for ready viewing of liquid flow through the indicator device 15. Thus the moisture indication portion of the assembly uses but a small total area but uses this area efficiently to provide for immediate and efiicient indication of the condition of the refrigerant.

In a dry system, the moisture indication means 22 will function by use of contrasting colors to present the stencilled word DRY in a readily observable manner. The circular element 36 will be blue in color and it will be noted that the circular element 38 provides the background color for the stencilled word DRY. Accordingly, the color of the element 38 being a permanent pink will cause the letters of the word DRY to stand out predominately in striking contrast with the surrounding blue of the element 36. Conversely, with a wet system, the element 36 will change to a definite pink color which will blend exactly with the permanent pink of the element 38 thus causing the word DRY to, in eflect, disappear. However, the stencilled word WET will become readily viewable by reason of the contrasting permanent blue color of the element 37 being observable through the stencilled word. Here again, the blue of the element 37 contrasts with the pink of the element 36 to cause the word WET to stand out. Refrigerant readily contacts the moisture sensitive element 36 by flowing into the chamber 1'9 of the device 15 (FIG. 2), through the perforations of the rigidifying element 40 to, in effect, soak through the paper elements 38, 37 and 36. The arcuate interruption of the element 37 permits the background color of the element 38 to be associated with one of the word instructions. These word instructions are aligned with the outer annular area of the window member 23 to be readily observable therethrough while preserving a large central portion of the window member 23 for unobstructed viewing of liquid flow. The contrasting color arrangements described may be varied to any degree desired as long as the separately observable word instructions are retained for proper functioning of the moisture indication means. Any number of circular elements may be used in forming the moisture indication means and, if desired, certain of the intermediate or bottom elements may be made moisture sensitive for changing colors for contrasting with a permanent color of the top element 36. Other suitable word instructions may also be used.

A new and improved refrigerant drier assembly forming a part of the present invention and including a special form of cover plate mounting therein a moisture-liquid indicator is generally illustrated in FIG. 7. The drier assembly 45 includes a housing formed from a tubular shell 46, an end closure 47 and a removable cover plate 48. The housing is provided with a first refrigerant flow connection in the form of a nipple 50 extending through the end closure 47. A second refrigerant flow connection in the form of a nipple 51 is attached to the shell 46 through a side portion thereof just inwardly of the cover plate 48. The shell 46 carries cover plate attaching ears 52 which receive therethrough fastener elements 53 in the form of bolts extending through apertures in the outer marginal portion 54 of the cover plate 48. Nuts 55 are threadedly received on the bolts 53 to removably hold the cover plate 48 in covering relation with the adjacent end of the shell 46. An annular gasket 56 seals off the end of the shell 46 with the cover plate 48 in a suitable manner.

Any number of drier cartridges 57 are received in the shell 46 and are held in any suitable manner therein such as by a conical spring 58 in engagement with the inner face of the cover plate 48 which urges the cartridges in end-to-end abutment and in abutment with a screen cap 60 at the opposite end of the shell and covering the inlet connection 50. Each of the drier cartridges 57 include centrally located tubular screen members 61 receiving thereabout porous molded desiccant blocks 62 of known type surrounded by discrete particles of dehydrant material 63. The details of the structural features of the drier cartridges are covered in my co-pending application Serial No. 787,592, filed January 19, 1959. Gaskets 64 and caps 65 seal off the central tubular portions of the cartridges to prevent straight-through flow and to cause the refrigerant to flow through the blocks 62 and past the dehydrant material 63 for filtering and drying thereof. Liquid refrigerant flows into the assembly through the connection 50, toward the cover plate 48 and out of the assembly through the connection 51. F or peripheral flow of refrigerant from the cartridges 57 toward the cover plate 48, the cartridges are provided with spacing members 66 which centrally locate the same within the shell 46. The spacing members 66 are in the form of ciscnmferentially spaced fins.

Referring particularly to FIG. 8, the cover plate 48 includes a special moisture-liquid indicator device which forms a part of the present invention. The central portion of the cover plate 48 carries an integrally formed, outwardly projecting collar-like portion 67 which internally thereof defines an opening extending axially through the cover plate. The outermost end of the collar portion 67 is provided with an integrally formed, radially inwardly projecting annular flange 68 which is in the form of a stop means overlapping a window member 70 received in the opening. The :window member 76) may be of any suitable type and is preferably fused or soldered in place within the collar portion 67 just inwardly of the flange 68.

The collar further carries internally thereof a ring member 71 provided with an annular shoulder portion 72 on which a moisture indication means 73 is mounted in abutment with the inner face of the window member 70. The ring member and moisture indication means are held in the cover plate opening by a removable retainer means in the form of a snap ring 74 which is suitably seated in an annular groove formed in the cover plate 4-8. The outer periphery of the collar portion 67 is threaded to receive thereon a seal cap 75 of the type previously described and having mounted therein a gasket 76 for engagement with the outer end of the moisture-liquid indicator device.

The elements making up the assembly described are shown in exploded relation in FIG. 9. The moisture indication means 73 is formed in the same manner as described above in connection with PEG. 6 and includes a centrally positioned sleeve-like retainer 77 receiving thereabout a color changeable, indicia-carrying circular element 78; an intermediate, interrupted a-rcuate element 80 of permanent color; an annular element 81 of permanent contrasting color; and a rigidifying element 82 formed from metallic material and perforated for liquid flow into contact with the elements 78, 8th and 81. The moisture sensitive element 78 will carry the word instructions WET and DRY thereon to provide moisture indication functioning in the same manner as previously described.

The cover plate moisture-liquid indicator device is readily assembled in the collar portion 67 of the cover plate by insertion and fusing of the window member 79 therein followed by placing the moisture indication means 73 in engagement with the inner surface of the window member 7h. The ring member 71 mounts the moisture indication means 73 by forming a seat for the rigidifying element 82. The split lock ring 7 4 completes the assembly and may be readily forced into the groove formed in the opening in the cover plate. The Window member 70 may be fused in place within the collar portion 67 as previously described or may be suitably gasketed therein. The radially inwardly directed flange-like stop means 68 prevents displacement of the assembly from the cover plate as a result of liquid pressure operating thereon from the interior of the drier assembly.

Removal of the seal cap 75 provides for ready observance of liquid flow within the drier assembly by observance through the central portion of the window member 70 and retainer sleeve 77 of the moisture indication means. Word instructions of the moisture content of the refrigerant are also readily observable through the window member 70 in the manner previously described. Thus the efficiency or condition of the drier cartridges within the drier assembly are immediately determined upon a glance at the moisture indication means 73 through the window member 70 and suitable cartridge replacement may be readily attended to by temporary interruption of refrigerant flow and removal of the cover plate 48.

The moisture indication means of the present invention completely eliminates the necessity of use of comparative color charts as the color changes occasioned by variation in moisture content in the refrigerant provides for readily observable self-contained word instructions.

Obviously certain modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A moisture-liquid indicator for mounting in refrigerant flow lines, said indicator including a body portion having a through passageway for liquid refrigerant floiw,

an enlarged chamber area formed in said body portion to one side of said passageway and in communication therewith, collar-like means formed integral with said body portion and defining internally thereof a substantial portion of said chamber area, a transparent window assembly received in said collar-like means and closing off said chamber area, said window assembly including a window member peripherally encased by a pair of cooperating packing means which overlap the inner and outer face margins of said window member, an O-ring received about said window member between said packing means, a packing gland threadedly received in said collarlike means and in engagement with the outermost of said packing means, and moisture indication means mounted on shoulder means formed integral with said body portion in said chamber area, said moisture indication means being in engagement with the innermost of said packing means and being of centrally apertured disc-like shape for liquid refrigerant viewing therethrough and through said window member, said moisture indication means including a color changeable moisture sensitive portion which is responsive to moisture content variation in said refrigerant and which is observable through said window member.

2. The indicator of claim 4 wherein said moisture indication means comprises superimposed circular elements including at least a top indicia-carrying element, an intermediate interrupted arcuate element, and a bottom element, the indicia of said top element being of stencillike character with said intermediate and bottom elements being arranged relative thereto to provide separate backgrounds to portions of said indicia, said elements being provided with comparative colors some of which are changeable in response to variation in refrigerant moisture content to vary the ready observance of separate indicia portions, element retainer means received through said elements to align the same, said retainer means being centrally apertured for liquid flow observance therethrough and including a top radially outwardly directed flange-like shoulder portion engaging said top element, and rigidifying means received on said retainer means below said bottom element and in engagement therewith and with the shoulder means of said body portion, said rigidifying means being in the form of a flat ring which is perforated throughout for refrigerant flow therethrough.

3. A moisture-liquid indicator for mounting in refrigerant flow lines, said indicator including a body portion having a through passageway for liquid refrigerant flow, an enlarged chamber area formed in said body portion to one side of said passageway and in communication therewith, collar-like means formed integral with said body portion and defining internally thereof a substantial portion of said chamber area, a transparent window assembly received in said collar-like means and closing off said chamber area, said window assembly including a window member peripherally encased by a pair of cooperating packing means which overlap the inner and outer face margins of said Window member, an O-ring received about said Window member between said packing means, a packing gland threadedly received in said collar-like means and in engagement with the outermost of said packing means, moisture indication means mounted on shoulder means formed integral with said body portion in said chamber area, said moisture indication means being in engagement with the inner most of said packing means and being of centrally apertured disc-like shape for liquid refrigerant viewing therethrough and through said window member, said moisture indication means including a color changeable moisture sensitive portion which is responsive to moisture content variation in said refrigerant and which is observable through said window member, retainer means received through said moisture indication means to align the same in said chamber area, said retainer means being centrally apertuned for liquid flow observance therethrough and including a top radially outwardly directed flange-like shoulder portion engaging said moisture indication means at the top thereof, and rigidifying means received on said retainer means below said moisture indication means and in engagement therewith and with the shoulder means of said body portion, said rigidifying means being in the form of a flat ring which is perforated throughout for refrigerant flow therethrough.

4. In a refrigerant drier assembly which includes a housing having at least one drier cartridge removably mounted therein, a refrigerant flow inlet connection communicating with the interior of said housing through one end thereof at one end of said cartridge, a refrigerant flow outlet connection communicating with the in terior of said housing through a side portion thereof at the other end of said cartridge, and a cover plate removably connected to the other end of said housing adjacent said outlet connection for access into said housing for cartridge replacement, the improvement comprising said cover plate including an opening therethrough defined by an outwardly projecting collar-like means having inwardly projecting stop means at the outer end thereof, a Window member in said collar-like means and retained by said stop means, a ring member received in said collar-like means rearwardly. of said window member, moisture indication means mounted on said ring member and positioned intermediate the same and said window memher, and removable lock means mounted in said cover plate and in engagement wtih said ring member to hold the same in said collar-like means, said moisture indication means being of centrally apertured disc-like shape for liquid refrigerant viewing therethrough and through said window member, said moisture indication means including a color changeable moisture sensitive portion which is responsive to moisture content variation in said refrigerant and which is observable through said window member, and retainer means received through said moisture indication means in end engagement with said window member, said retainer means being centrally apertured for liquid flow observance therethrough and including a radially outwardly directed flange-like shoulder portion adjacent the end thereof which is engagement with said window member, said shoulder portion engaging said moisture indication means to confine the same between said window member and said ring member.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said moisture indication means comprises superimposed circular elements including at least a top indicia-carrying element, an intermediate interrupted :arcuate element, and a bottom element, the indicia of said top element being of stencil-like character with said intermediate and bottom elements being arranged relative thereto to provide separate backgrounds to portions of said indicia, said elements being provided with comparative colors some of which are changeable in response to variation in refrigerant moi-sture content to vary the ready observance of separate indicia portions, and rigidifying means received on said ring member below said bottom element and in engagement therewith and with said ring member, said rigidifyting means being in the form of a flat ring which is perforated throughout for refrigerant flow therethrough.

6. A moisture-liquid indicator for mounting in refrigerant flow lines, said indicator including a body portion having a through passageway [for liquid refrigerant flow, an enlarged chamber area formed in said body portion to one side of said passageway and in communication therewith, collar-like means formed integral with said body portion and defining internally thereof a substantial portion of said chamber area, a transparent window member received in said collar-like means and closing off said chamber area, moisture indication means mounted on shoulder means formed integral wtih said body portion in said chamber area, said moisture indication means being of centrally apertured disc-like shape for liquid refrigerant viewing therethrough and through said window memher, said moisture indication means including a color changeable moisture sensitive portion which is responsive to moisture content variation in said refrigerant and which is observable through said window member, and retainer means received through said moisture indication means in end engagement with said window member, said retainer means being centrally apertured for liquid flow observance therethrough and including a radially outwardly directed flange-like shoulder portion adjacent the end thereof which is in engagement with said window member, said shoulder portion engaging said moisture indication means to confine the same between said window member and said shoulder means of said body portion.

7. A moisture-liquid indicator for mounting in refrigerant flow lines, said indicator including a body portion having a through passageway for liquid refrigerant flow, an enlarged chamber area formed in said body portion to one side of said passageway and in communication therewith, collar-like means formed integral with said body portion and defining internally thereof a substantial portion of said chamber area, a transparent window member received in said collar-like means and closing ofi said chamber :area, moisture indication means mounted on shoulder means formed integral with said body portion in said chamber area, said moisture indication means being of centrally apertured disc-like shape for liquid refrigerant viewing therethrough and through said window member, said moisture indication means including a color changeable moisture sensitive portion which is responsive to moisture content variation in said refrigerant and which is observalble thnongh said window member, retainer means received through said moisture indication means in end engagement with said window member, said retainer means being centrally apertured for liquid flow observance therethrough and including a radially outwardly directed flange-like shoulder portion adjacent the end thereof which is in engagement with said window member, said shoulder portion engaging said moisture indication means to confine the same between said window member and said shoulder means of said body portion, and rigidifying means received on said retainer means below said moisture indication means and in engagement therewith and with the shoulder means of said body portion, said rigidifying means being in the form of a flat ring which is perforated throughout for refrigerant flow therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Frank Oct. 29, 1957 Wishmeyer July 22, 1958 284,120 Great Britain Jan. 26, 1928 

1. A MOISTURE-LIQUID INDICATOR FOR MOUNTING IN REFRIGERANT FLOW LINES, SAID INDICATOR INCLUDING A BOODY PORTION HAVING A THROUGH PASSAGEWAY FOR LIQUID REFRIGERANT FLOW, AN ENLARGED CHAMBER AREA FORMED IN SAID BODY PORTION TO ONE SIDE OF SAID PASSAGEWAY AND IN COMMUNICATION THEREWITH, COLLAR-LIKE MEANS FORMED INTEGRAL WITH SAID BODY PORTION AND DEFINING INTERNALLY THEREOF A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF SAID CHAMBER AREA, A TRANSPARENT WINDOW ASSEMBLY RECEIVED IN SAID COLLAR-LIKE MEANS AND CLOSING OFF SAID CHAMBER AREA, SAID WINDOW ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A WINDOW MEMBER PERIPHERALLY ENCASED BY A PAIR OF COOPERATING PACKING MEANS WHICH OVERLAP THE INNER AND OUTER FACE MARGINS OF SAID WINDOW MEMBER, AN O-RING RECEIVED ABOUT SAID WINDOW MEMBER BETWEEN SAID PACKING MEANS, A PACKING GLAND THEREADEDLY REEIVED IN SAID COLLARLIKE MEANS, AND MOISTURE INDICATION MEANS MOUNTED PACKING MEANS, AND MOISTURE INDICATION MEANS MOUNTED ON SHOULDER MEANS FORMED INTEGRAL WITH SAID BODY PORTION IN SAID CHAMBER AREA, SAID MOISTURE INDICATION MEANS BEING IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNERMOST OF SAID PACKING MEANS AND BEING OF CENTRALLY APERTURED DISC-LIKE SHAPE FOR LIQUID REFRIGERANT VIEWING THERETHROUGH AND THROUGH SAID WINDOW MEMBER, SAID MOISTURE INDICATION MEANS INCLUDING A COLOR CHANGEABLE MOISTURE SENSITIVE PORTION WHICH IS RESPONSIVE TO MOISTURE CONTENT VARIATION IN SAID REFRIGERANT AND WHICH IS OBSERVABLE THROUGH SAID WINDOW MEMBER. 